Amalgamator



(No Model.)

E. D. ROTH. AMLGAMATOR.

No. 427,442. Patented May'6,'l890.

open-that is, supported by rods a a at- 'in lingers d d se iarated from each other UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ELIAS D. ROTH, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.

AMALGA IVIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,442, dated May 6, 1890.

Serial No. 325,680. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it 71mg/ oon/007%.-

Be it known that I, ELIAS D. ROTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has reference to amalgamating apparatus, and has for its object the production of an amalgamator by which a large percentage of the precious metals may be extracted from their ores at a minimum of cost.

To this end it consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a vertical sectional view ofmy apparatus; and Fig. 2, a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken from a point at a right angle to Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a vertically-arranged cylinder closed at its upper end by a head a, but having its lower end tached to its sides near the top and depending from the horizontal beam Z7 of a suitable frame-work B. The rods a a are, as shown, screw-threaded at their upper portions and provided with nuts engaging with the top side of beam l), whereby vertical adjustment of the cylinder may be had when desirable.

Secured to and adapted to rotate with a vertical shaft C, extending from a point a short distance above the beam b down into the cylinder A, is a screw conveyor c, contained within such cylinder and of such length as to reach from the top thereof downward for about two-thirds of its length. -Upon the lower end of the conveyor are formed radial arms d (Z, which project from the lower por tions thereof slightly below the end of said cylinder and in directions diametrically opposite to each other to a certain distance outside of and beyond the cylinder A. Each arm d on its portion outside of said cylinder is provided with a number of npwardlyextendby a slight space. j One edge of each of the arms d d is, as shown, beveled so as to form a knife or cutting edge. rFliese arms and iingers constitute a stirring or agitating device.

For rotating the conveyer and stirrer or agitator, I have shown simply a band-wheel c mounted on the shaft O, where it projects above the top beam of the frame-work; but any other suitable means may be employed as may be found expedient.

Surrounding the lower portion of the cylinder A is a tub or vessel E, designed to contain the mercury necessary for the amalgamating process, which is so arranged with reference to said cylinder that a space c is left between its bottom and the lower end of the said cylinder, through which space communication may be had between' them, and also a freel move ment of the stirrer or agitator. Said tub is supported by gudgeons e e projecting from opposite sides thereof into suitable openings provided in the upper ends of two rack-bars F F, located in recesses formed in the side timbers of the framework B, and in which they are adapted to have a certain degree of vertical movement for the purpose of raising and lowering the tub E. Such movement of the rack-bars may be accomplished by means of two pinions g g, engaging therewith and arranged on a horizontal shaft G, provided at one end with a crank g for use in turning it.

The tub E, when at the upper limit of its vertical movement, is retained therein by bars, I pivoted at one end to one of the side timbers of the frame-work B and adapted to be turned upward so as to bear against the under side of the tulo-bottom, and by means of a pin t', which may be passed through a hole in the opposite timber, secured in such position. Any other means for securing the tub in its raised position may of course be employed without departure from my invention, although I prefer that just described, bccause'the bars I also serve to partially support it.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the tub or vessel E is a projection or enlargement c2, through which is tapped a bolt II, preferably of hardened steel, which, when the tub is arranged in its upper position, as shown in Fig. l, furnishes a bearing `for the stirrer or agitator. Vear of the partsn may thus be IOO compensated for by a simple adjustment of the bolt.

Two pipes le 71a, extending from an elevated tank K down into the cylinder A at opposite sides, and perforated for all or a portion of their length contained within such cylinder, complete the essential parts of my amalgamator, whose operation is as follows:

v The pulp, on being introduced into the cylinder A through an opening a2 provided in its head or top, will be engaged by the rotating screw conveyer and forced downward through the same and out into the tub or vessel E, by way of the space between the cylinder-bottom and the tub-bottom, and there engaged by the stirring or agitatin g devices, it being understood, of course, that the tub E has in it the requisite quantity of mercury for effecting'the amalgamation, enough to eX- tend a short distance above the lower edge of cylinder A being quite sufficient for such purpose. It will be seen that the stirrers or agitators aid the amalgamation materially by y causing a thorough mechanical separation of the particles of precious metals from the pulp, and to a greater extent. than is possible where the pulp is simply discharged into the mercury. By the constant agitation of the contents of the tub the iron which may be contained in the ore and the refuse material, having less specific gravity than the amalgam, will be rapidly concentrated on the surface, and may be drawn or discharged from the tub by a suitably-arranged spout e3. In its downward passage through the cylinder the pulp is subjected to a continual spray of Water, preferably warmed,from the pipes 7c k, such spray, owing to the elevation of the tank K, striking it with considerable force and causinga cleansing of theparticles of precious metal from the slime7 of the pulp, thereby rendering such more susceptible to the action of the mercury. rIhe lower ends of the pipes 7c 7c, it should be observed, are closed, so that the only discharge from them is through the perforations in their sides.

When occasion requires, as for the removal of the product from the tub or a cleaning of the latter, it may be readily lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit such operations to be done most conveniently, access to it when lowered being greatly facilitated by rocking it on its pivotal connections with its supports.

By the use'of my apparatus a large perl centage of gold, silver, and other metals may be most readily and economically extracted from their ores, as the mechanical appliances employed effect a most thorough separation thereof, greatly facilitating the action of the mercury and bringing into contact therewith portions of the metals which might otherwise pass olf with the refuse and be lost.

Practically I have three machines in oneviz., that for the preliminary treatment of the pulp by subjecting' it to the action of the iine streams of water, thereby removing the slime, the amalgamator proper,v and the agitating devices for effecting the concentration of the iron, rte., in the ores, which it may be desirable to save. Vhere it is desirable to use simply a concentrator, this last device may be used most effectively alone without the cooperation of the other portions of the apparatus, for, as will be obvious, the agitators described, when used in a bulk of material composed of substances having a different specific gravity, will cause a ready separation thereof and a concentration according to their respective gravities.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combination,with a frame, a verticallyadjustable vessel A, open at its lower end, a forcing-screw provided with radial stirrers and working in the said vessel A, thel said radial stirrers extending beyond the vessel A and workin g in the mercury-tub, and waterpipes leading into the said vessel A, of a mercury-tub provided with diametrically-opposite pinions e c and surrounding the lower end of vessel A, rack-bars F F, workin g in guides in the said frame and having journaled in their upper ends the said pinions e e of the tub, and a shaft and pinions for simultaneously moving the said rack-bars, whereby the said mercury-tub may be lowered and tilted to remove its contents without disturbing the other parts of the apparatus, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIAS D. ROTH.

IOO 

